What kind of fish can be kept in a small aquarium

Care of a small aquarium, on the one hand, easy, and on the other, takes the hassle. Choose a mini tank rectangular, with straight and smooth walls.

It is convenient to clean them with a scraper, to maintain. If the tank is round, then it will be inconvenient to reach its corners, it is difficult to wash.

A 10-liter aquarium pollutes faster than a 50-100-liter aquarium. Water changes will have to be done more often, as well as comprehensive cleaning, which is not useful for the biobalance of the aquatic environment and the health of the fish.

The main disadvantage of mini tanks is a small amount of water. It does not fit a lot of fish. There you can settle 1-2 fish, and no more.

In a large aquarium, water changes are not strongly felt, in a small one this is a great stress. Any changes in the biological balance: fish death, overfeeding, pollution immediately affect the aquatic environment.

The only thing that can be done is to adjust the water parameters in time, feed the fish gently, clean the bottom.

See how the ground siphon in the nano aquarium.

To care for a small aquarium should be the same as for a large one. Once a week you need to change 10-15% of water, if necessary.

So that the fish do not have stress, do not replace the water completely, try to add it in small portions. The ideal aquarium filter for such a tank is a pump with an internal sponge.

The sponge cannot be washed out under running water, otherwise all beneficial bacteria participating in the nitrogen cycle will die.

If you choose the smallest reservoir, then it will be almost impossible to install plants and decorations. Some skillfully planted even in 3-liter jars of dwarf plants, but it is inconvenient to take care of them. In the 10-liter tank there is the possibility to hold a dwarf anubias, a dwarf arrowhead, an echinodorus “dwarf amazon”, a dwarf cryptocoryne.

Plants for a small aquarium are able to control the level of nitrite, nitrate and ammonia, create shelters for fish. Make sure that the aquarium was the ground.

Choose a substrate treated, clean, without paint. Remember that using a regular scraper to clean aquariums of minimal size is very difficult from the layer of plaque.

Now about feeding. As you know, overfeeding harms not only the health of the fish, but also adversely affects the quality of water. All uneaten decays, turning into harmful impurities and bacteria.

Decay products are deposited on the bottom and reservoir machines, disturbing the stability of the biological environment. Fish should be fed, hunger is also not an option. Once a week, arrange fasting days for fish.

Add food to 4-6 grains, which pet is swallowed by force. What is not eaten, you need to remove the gauze net.

Let’s for fish that live in a small 10-20-liter nursery as much feed as they eat in 2-6 minutes. Flakes, live food, sinking granules fit. They sink slowly and do not pollute the environment.

If you live on bottom catfish, they will eat everything on their own. Fish can be fed to their usual high-grade food, without disturbing the diet.

It is important to clean everything in time.

See how to make a small aquarium.

What kind of fish can you keep in mini aquariums? In a small 10-20 liter tank you need to settle pets with miniature body size. Fish 2-6 centimeters in length will carry such a volume of water.

But remember that even small fish want to swim in a spacious environment. They can not be kept in containers that will restrict movement. Territorial and aggressive fish cannot be accommodated in mini aquariums.

Which do not need to settle in a 10-liter aquariums? These are swordtails, barbus averages, cichlids, gourami, danios.

They have an active and energetic disposition, they need more space for shelter.

In the aquarium of 10-20 liters, you can settle small barbs, pseudomogil gertrudy, rice fish, cherry barbus, rasbor, erythrosalonus, neon, tetra Amanda. Also there you can keep such fish and shrimp: catfish ottsinklyus, corridor, shrimp amano, cherry shrimp, copper tetra.

A representative of the genus Pecilia, viviparous fishes get along well in mini tanks.

You need to buy breeds of fish with a strong immunity, that is, not actually thoroughbred, but hybrids. If you do not have the opportunity to buy a spacious “house” for your small pet, you need to buy a small aquarium with a capacity of 10 liters. There are also often settled well-known Siamese cockerels.

The cockerel can live alone, does not get along with relatives, this is after all a fighting fish.

See also: Small aquarium fish.

Preliminary preparation before the acquisition of small fish

If you have enough space and money to install an aquarium of any acceptable size, as well as the necessary equipment to ensure the life of the fish, you can proceed to the next heading of this article.

If you are cramped in something, then you need to define your desires, given that small aquariums are much more difficult to maintain than large ones, but the latter require more time for maintenance. For example, a 100-liter aquarium will suit a novice aquarist better than a 50-liter aquarium.

A large aquarium is simpler and better kept for several reasons:

1. Water temperature and quality are more stable.

2. The impact of adverse factors on the fish takes longer, which gives the novice aquarist the opportunity to influence them in a timely manner. For example, in winter time, the water heater broke, the cooling process is slower and you can manage to get off and buy a new one before the fish get cold.

Or ampularia died from old age in the thickets of a small aquarium, the water became dull, the smell appeared, fish began to die. In a large aquarium, this process will occur many times slower and you can remove the dead snail from the can without harming the fish.

3. In small aquariums there is little space for free swimming, and, accordingly, not every favorite decor can be placed in it.

4. Ample opportunities for design and decoration.

5. A large aquarium can hold a lot of large fish or a large number of small ones, it allows you to contain various types of fish.

With all the advantages of large aquariums, it is sometimes not possible to install it. Small aquariums are great for apartments, country houses or hostels, as well as for the second floors of private houses.

Large aquariums weigh a lot, they are difficult to transport, take up more space, and in unforeseen circumstances cause more damage.

The biggest advantage of a small aquarium is a financial issue. Aquarium, equipment, scenery, soil, plants, the cost of electricity, the treatment of fish cost much less.

Before acquiring you need to properly assess the benefits of both large and small aquariums. Answer yourself to the question: “What volume of aquarium would you like and is there an opportunity to contain such a volume?” If finances are not important and you do not often move, then the choice is obvious. And if you do not want or can not afford a large aquarium, then a small aquarium is what you need for you.

In any case, the main thing – comfortable conditions for the maintenance of fish.